GameBanshee Forums

Many of you probably already know this, but I want to share what I know of lvl up magic skills out of combat. If I missed anything please write it. I don’t do this a lot, because I feel like it is abusing the game mechanics, but it might be nice for someone who wants a character who's supplementing their warrior or thief skills with magic and want to increase it fast to focus on the primary skills. Some might require you to be in combat, but it will still help increase your skills fast.

Alteration:

Use Water Breathing spell while standing in water (you don’t even need to be under water).

Cast Detect Life in cities – the more people the quicker the skill will increase.

Use Telekinesis on an object and continue to hold it (don’t pick it up into your inventory).

When you have the expert lvl perk for Alteration a spell like paralyze becomes a good choice for fast skill increases. Summon an atronach or something else and start paralyzing it. It seems the game award more skill XP for high lvl spells, can anyone confirm that?
Conjuration:

Repeat cast long-duration and low-cost magicka spells in combat. Fx. find a horker provoke it into combat (just walk around it until it gets pissed off) and then use bound sword spells in both hands and just walk/run around it.

Destruction:

It can’t be increased out of combat, but using a low-cost spell like Flames or Sparks on a summoned creature etc. will allow you to gain some more control of the lvl up situation.

Illusion:

Use the Muffle spell repeatedly.

Cast Courage on friendly NPCs repeatedly.

Restoration:

Damage your health and then heal yourself with a healing spell.

The Circle of Protection spell can be cast out of combat at any time for increasing the skill, but the spell is only available or at least only an effective solution after you’ve got the Expert perk (skill lvl 75).

You missed the best way to level Alteration out of combat, but to be fair its a little known spell.

Transmute Mineral Ore (aka Transmute) - Turns Silver Ore into Gold Ore, and Iron Ore into Silver Ore (in that order, one transmute per cast, does not benefit from from dual casting).

Although the spell is Adept level, novices will be able to cast it. The spell can be found in two dungeons,

Spoiler

Halted Stream Camp

and

Spoiler

Ansilvund

, and is occasionally sold by

Spoiler

Enthir

and

Spoiler

Tolfdir

once your Alteration is over 50.

if you want to level up illusion just use clairvoyance when traveling as long as you do not mind being low on magicka